Campaigners say court decision could open floodgates to more criminal cases
against controversial strikes and call for international arrest warrant
against American spy

A court in Pakistan on Thursday ordered police to investigate murder allegations against a senior CIA officer as tension over drone strikes threatens to further embarrass America and its allies in Islamabad.

Human rights campaigners say the decision paves the way for dozens more cases to be brought against the US and hope police will now seek an international arrest warrant for a former CIA station chief, who was hurriedly flown from the country after his cover was blown in 2010.

The covert drone programme, targeting militants along the border with Afghanistan, is hugely controversial in Pakistan despite a lull this year to allow peace talks.

Mirza Shahzad Akbar, of the Foundation for Fundamental Rights, welcomed Thursday’s decision, which he said came after years trying to convince police that they had jurisdiction to register cases against strikes in the remote tribal areas.

“There’s no legal basis for drone strikes, so if they are happening it is a criminal act that needs to be investigated,” he said.